Rolls-Royce Cullinan debuts, better than a Bentley Bentayga?

The ultra-luxury SUV game has just been taken to another level with the debut of Rolls-Royce first-ever SUV, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. With a tagline Effortless Everywhere, the new Cullinan delivers luxury effortlessly without compromise to its esteemed customers wherever they may be.

Sitting on an all-new aluminium “Architecture of Luxury” platform, the Cullinan measures at 5,341 mm in length, 2,165 mm in width, 1,835 mm in height with a wheelbase of 3,295 mm. It dwarfs the Bentley Bentayga in comparison. Boot space is rated at 560 litres and expandable to 600 litres with the parcel shelf removed.

When penning the car, the design team envisioned an authentic, three-box high-bodied all-terrain SUV which resulted in a boxy and imposing car. The front end is familiar Rolls-Royce (albeit much taller), while the rear incorporates traditional Rolls-Royce elements into a high-riding car. The kink at the tailgate is there to give the Cullinan better stance and presence. As if the front grille is not imposing enough.

Like any other Rolls-Royce, the Cullinan also features coach doors to welcome the rear passengers. Upon unlocking, the air suspension lowers itself by 40 mm to aid ingress and egress and raises itself to the standard ride height upon start up. Customers can have their Cullinan’s rear seats in two configurations – Lounge Seats or Individual Seats.

The Lounge Seats is the more family-friendly of the two with space for three passengers. The Lounge Seats can also be folded completely (2/3 and 1/3 split) to carry more items – a first for Rolls-Royce. Individual Seats are for those to value ultimate luxury in their SUV, with space only for two passengers, the Fixed Rear Centre Console has a drinks cabinet that holds Rolls-Royce whisky glasses and decanter, champagne flutes and refrigerator.

Unfortunately, the Starlight headliner that puts on a light show for the passengers is not available in the Cullinan. Instead, the carmaker has fitted an industry-leading panoramic glass roof for passengers to view actual stars when out on the open road. When in the great outdoors, passengers can enjoy breathtaking views courtesy of the Viewing Suite, a retractable bench and table at the boot.

Moving the Cullinan is a 6.75-litres twin-turbo V12 that puts out 571 hp and 850 Nm of torque, the latter peaks from 1,600 rpm. Drive is channelled to all four corners and the all-wheel-drive system also features all-wheel steer to overcome challenging terrains.

The drivetrain has been calibrated to ensure the brand’s famed Magic Carpet Ride is evident on- and off-road. The self-leveling air suspension makes millions of calculations every second to ensure the ride and handling adapts to the road conditions perfectly. For those who are willing to take their Cullinan off-road, Rolls-Royce has prepared an Off-Road button that unleashes all the Cullinan’s off-road capability be it for rough track, gravel, wet grass, mud, snow or sand. In its tallest ride height, the Cullinan boasts the deepest wading depth of any super-luxury SUV at 540 mm.

CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Torsten Müller-Ötvös said: “The launch of a new Rolls-Royce model is always a seminal moment in the luxury industry. Today we are setting a new standard by creating a new class of motoring and motor car for customers who are well-connected, highly mobile and have a global perspective. They want a new type of motor car that gives them unbounded access in ultimate luxury. Their sense of adventure and daring demands a “go-anywhere in ultimate luxury” motor car that will both take them to and meet them at the pinnacle of life. Cullinan is that motor-car.”